American Platinum Eagle Coins

American Platinum Eagles - the US Mint's official platinum bullion coins

While the American Gold Eagle coins and American Silver Eagle coins were already issued by the US Mint since 1986, precious metal investors had to wait until 1997 before they could buy platinum coins that were minted in America. The obverse side of the American Platinum Eagle coins shows a close-up portrait of Lady Liberty. The regular reverse design of an eagle in flight only appears on the reverse of brilliant uncirculated American Platinum Eagles. Proof Platinum Eagles however display a different design on their reverse side each year which is a unique feature for U.S. bullion coins.

The 99.95% fine Platinum American Eagle coins are available in the denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. The coins have respective face values of US $ 100, US $ 50, US $ 25 and US $ 10. Buyers can choose between brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished uncirculated coins. The burnished version of the American Eagle platinum coins was however only minted between 2006 and 2008. It used the same reverse design as the proof coins in those years. Proof and burnished coins are mintmarked (with the W for the West Point Mint) whereas brilliant uncirculated coins are not. American buyers that are investing in platinum for their retirement can include the coins in their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's).

Coin Specifications

Weight

Face Value

Purity

Diameter x Thickness

1 oz

US $ 100

99.95%

32.70 x 2.39 mm

1/2 oz

US $ 50

99.95%

27 x 1.75 mm

1/4 oz

US $ 25

99.95%

22 x 1.32 mm

1/10 oz

US $ 10

99.95%

16.50 x 0.95 mm

Reverse Design of the Proof Platinum Eagles

1997

initial reverse (used on bullion version every year)

1998

"Vistas of Liberty" series - coast of New England

1999

"Vistas of Liberty" series - Southeastern Wetlands

2000

"Vistas of Liberty" series - Midwestern heartland of the US

2001

"Vistas of Liberty" series - Southwestern desert

2002

"Vistas of Liberty" series - Northwestern US

2003

Bald eagle on Rocky Mountain pine branch before US flag

2004

inspired by the sculpture "America" in front of the U.S. Customs House in New York City

2005

Bald eagle with symbols that represent America’s strength and bountifulness

2006

"Foundations of Democracy" series - "Legislative Muse" between two columns that represent the two chambers of Congress

2007

"Foundations of Democracy" series - eagle representing the Executive Branch of government

Preamble series - "To Secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity" theme

2015

"Torches of Freedom" series - "Liberty Nurtures Freedom"

2016

"Torches of Freedom" series - Liberty with a torch of enlightenment and a peace-representing olive branch

2017

original reverse design brought back for the 20th Anniversary of the coin series

2018

new obverse design - Lady Liberty planting seeds

2018 - 2020

reverse design of an eagle in flight carrying an olive branch

Platinum Eagle Coin Design

The same John Mercanti who designed the reverse side of the American Silver Eagles also designed the obverse of the platinum version of the coin. Lady Liberty is shown in a close-up portrait with the word LIBERTY above her head. The words "E Pluribus Unum" are engraved near the coin's bottom left edge and the year of mintage as well as the phrase "In God We Trust" appears to the right of Lady Liberty's head. The obverse design is meant to represent "Liberty Looking to the Future".

Thomas D. Rogers designed the reverse side of the regular bullion version of the coins. It shows an eagle with outstretched wings soaring through the sky above a small crop of land. The low-lying sun with its gleaming rays appears in the background. The inscription "United States of America" appears above the image of the flying eagle. This standard design has appeared on brilliant uncirculated coins every year since. It only appeared on proof coins in 1997 though. Information about the purity of the coins, face value and denomination also appears on the reverse. Additionally, proof and burnished coins display a mint mark.

Since 1998, all four denominations of proof American Platinum Eagles feature a different yearly design on their reverse. That makes these proof coins special because no other coins minted by the United States Mint change their reverse design every year. However, the burnished coins that were minted between 2006 and 2008 used the proof coins' reverse design of these years.

All special reverse designs of the proof Platinum American Eagles can be seen in the slider above. Whereas some annual proof editions have their own unique theme, others display a design that is a part of a multi-year program. The proof coins between 1998 and 2002 were designed under the "Vistas of Liberty" program. Each of these five coins showed the American eagle in the midst of a different natural scenery that is reminiscent of a certain region of the USA. The reverse design of the three proof coins between 2006 and 2008 represented the three branches of government under the "Foundations of Democracy" program. The six proof coins since 2009 were inspired by the Preamble to the United States Constitution and visualized concepts of American democracy. The 2015 and 2016 proof coins make up the 2-coin "Torches of Freedom" series that features Lady Liberty in modern interpretations. "Liberty Nurtures Freedom" was the theme of the 2015 coin that showed Lady Liberty hand-feeding an American bald eagle that sits on the globe. The 2016 proof Platinum Eagle shows Liberty with a torch of enlightenment in her right hand and an olive branch (that represents peace) in her left. A bald eagle flies close by under her gaze.

For the 20th anniversary of the coin series in 2017, the proof coins brought back the original reverse design that also appears on the brilliant uncirculated coins every year. Another change was made to the coin series in 2018. The new reverse design of an eagle in flight that is carrying an olive branch will remain unchanged until 2020! Meanwhile, the obverse side was changed for the first time. The 2018 version shows Lady Liberty with a child on her arm planting seeds.

History of the Platinum American Eagles

Three institutions worked together to make America's first platinum bullion coin a reality. These were the United States Mint, the American Numismatic Association and the Platinum Guild International. The legislation process that led to the creation of the American Platinum Eagle started in 1995. The American Congress gave its authorization in 1996 and 1997 already saw the release of the first American Eagle coins out of platinum in the four denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz. To this day, the coins are the only official platinum bullion coins that are minted in the USA.

The last year that all four denominations of the American Platinum Eagle coin were minted was 2008. Since then, only 1 oz coins were struck. Whereas the mintage of 1 oz proof coins was never interrupted, mintage of 1 oz brilliant uncirculated coins stopped between 2009 and 2013 and again in 2015. Burnished uncirculated Platinum Eagles were only produced between 2006 and 2008 in all four denominations.

In 2007, the US Mint inadvertently released a very small number of pre-production proof strikes. On these proof coins, the word "Freedom" on the reverse appears frosted like the rest of the raised design. A die polishing error was the cause for this mistake. On all the other proof coins that were released that year, the word "Freedom" appears mirrorlike like the rest of the coin field that surrounds the frosted raised design in the middle.

Mintage Numbers

Annual mintage numbers of the Platinum American Eagle coin are low in comparison to the silver or gold version of the coins. The highest mintage of brilliant uncirculated coins was reached in 1998 when 133,002 coins of the 1 oz denomination were minted. Only 6,000 such coins were minted in 2006.

Proof coin mintage varied between 3,886 coins (1 oz coins in 2015) and 36,993 coins (1/10 oz coins in 1997). A burnished uncirculated version of the American Eagle platinum coin was only minted in the years from 2006 to 2008. The 2,253 half-ounce burnished coins that were minted in 2008 are the rarest of all Platinum Eagle issues. The largest annual output of the burnished coin type was set in 2007 with 5,556 pieces of 1/10 oz.

These mintage numbers for brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished uncirculated American Platinum Eagles include individually sold coins as well as coins sold as part of multi-coin sets (except the coins of the 10th Anniversary 2-Coin Proof Set 2007 that is listed below).

BU Platinum American Eagle Coins

1 oz

1/2 oz

1/4 oz

1/10 oz

1997

56,000

20,500

27,100

70,250

1998

133,002

32,419

38,887

39,525

1999

56,707

32,309

39,734

55,955

2000

10,003

18,892

20,054

34,027

2001

14,070

12,815

21,815

52,017

2002

11,502

24,005

27,405

23,005

2003

8,007

17,409

25,207

22,007

2004

7,009

13,236

18,010

15,010

2005

6,310

9,013

12,013

14,013

2006

6,000

9,602

12,001

11,001

2007

7,202

7,001

8,402

13,003

2008

21,800

14,000

22,800

17,000

2014

16,900

none

none

none

2016

20,000

none

none

none

proof American Platinum Eagles

1 oz

1/2 oz

1/4 oz

1/10 oz

1997

20,851

15,431

18,628

36,993

1998

14,912

13,836

14,873

19,847

1999

12,363

11,103

13,507

19,133

2000

12,453

11,049

11,995

15,651

2001

8,969

8,254

8,847

12,174

2002

9,834

8,772

9,282

12,365

2003

8,246

7,131

7,044

9,534

2004

6,007

5,063

5,193

7,161

2005

6,602

5,942

6,592

8,104

2006

9,152

7,649

7,813

10,205

2007

8,363

25,519

6,017

8,176

2008

4,769

4,020

4,153

5,138

2009

7,945

none

none

none

2010

9,871

none

none

none

2011

14,790

none

none

none

2012

9,081

none

none

none

2013

5,763

none

none

none

2014

4,596

none

none

none

2015

3,886

none

none

none

2016

9,151

none

none

none

burnished American Platinum Eagle

The US Mint produces American Gold Eagle coins since 1986 with an obverse design that depicts Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. This design is reminiscent of the historic Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagles. The 91.67% pure gold coins exist with brilliant uncirculated, proof and burnished (only between 2006 and 2008) finishes. Four denominations of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz are available. American Eagle coins count among the most popular gold coins. By law, the gold that is used to mint these coins must have been mined in the United States.

The American Gold Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

The US Mint started with the production of American Silver Eagle coins in 1986. The coins are minted out of 99.9% fine silver and are offered with brilliant uncirculated, proof (no proof coins in 2009) and burnished uncirculated (2006 - 2008 and since 2011) finishes. Whereas the gold version of the coins is minted in four different denominations, Silver Eagles exist only as 1 oz coins. Another unusual feature for bullion coins is that the silver coins bear a totally different design (on both sides!) than their gold counterparts. The obverse side of the coins uses Adolph A. Weinman's famous "Walking Liberty" design that depicts Lady Liberty in stride towards the rising sun.

The American Silver Eagle page gives more information about the coins and allows you to compare current prices.

The Palladium American Eagles are the US Mint's latest addition to the American Eagle bullion coin series. The first 15,000 brilliant uncirculated coins were issued on the 25th of September 2017 and proof coins are scheduled to be first released in 2018. Burnished uncirculated coins may also be released at a later time. All American Palladium Eagles are minted out of 99.95% fine palladium in the single size of 1 oz (US $ 25 face value). A young Lady Liberty wearing a winged Phrygian cap is depicted on the obverse side of the coins. The reverse shows an eagle perched upon a rock and holding an olive branch in its beak. The high-relief design of both sides was originally created by Adolph A. Weinman, one of the most famous American coin designers.

American Eagle Platinum Coin Sets

1997 Impressions of Liberty Set

total gold weight: 1 oz

total silver weight: 1 oz

total platinum weight: 1 oz

The Impressions of Liberty Set contains the 3 proof American Eagles in gold, silver and platinum, all in the 1 oz denomination. The coins are mintmarked with the W for the West Point branch of the US Mint.

Inaugural Uncirculated 4-Coin Set 1997

total platinum weight: 1.85 oz

In the first year of issue of the American Platinum Eagle coins, all four brilliant uncirculated coins of 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz and 1/10 oz were sold in a special presentation box with a certificate of authenticity. Only 2,500 such sets exist.

4-Coin Proof Sets 1997 - 2008

total platinum weight: 1.85 oz

All four denominations of the American Platinum Eagle coins were only issued between 1997 and 2008. A 4-coin proof set containing one proof coin of every denomination was issued in those years in a box with a certificate of authenticity.

10th Anniversary 2-Coin Proof Set 2007

total platinum weight: 1 oz

For the 10th Anniversary of the US Mint's American Platinum Eagles in 2007, a special 2-coin proof set was issued. It includes two 1/2 oz coins, one with a proof and the other with a reverse proof finish. A total of 19,583 such sets were sold.